It is natural that if you live with a cat, you wonder the extent to which he professes the same love that you feel for him. Far from being ferret and cold animals, felines mobilize an arsenal of signs of love for their guardians. It’s enough to know how to interpret them. Do you want to find out if cats wish to their owners?
You should know that felines’ brains perceive reality in a more one-way and straightforward way than humans. They develop into a more spontaneous emotional code, but this does not mean that they cannot love and appreciate their human family’s company. We see it!
After observing their behavior, experts agree that felines can create strong attachment links with their guardians. Not for nothing, the person who provides you with food and drink, hygiene care, as well as playing time and care will inevitably become a powerful source of positive emotions.
If this behavior is repeated in time, the reinforcement will be immediate, and the mini will not feel emotionally linked to that person as long as he lives. However, this attachment lacks the introspection and capacity for reflection that feelings require. Cats, unlike us, have not developed self-awareness.
Thus, in the face of a particular stimulus, your brain’s limbic system and hormones will be activated to present you with the appropriate reaction according to your past experiences. However, cats cannot feel complex emotions, such as guilt or shame, nor do they understand that they have done wrong if they are scolded.
Minins are like human babies
We want to share with you the conclusions of an exciting study that sheds light on the question of whether or not cats love their owners. It has been done by the University of Oregon and published in the scientific journal Current Biology. This research analysed the behaviour of puppies between 3 and 8 months of age.
They remained with their owner in an unknown room for 2 minutes. Afterwards, they were left alone for another 2 minutes in the same place, which was used to observe their behaviour. It was found that 65% of the sample deployed a positive attachment, insistently searching for its guardians’ trail.
After those 2 minutes, their owners re-entered the room. Most of the puppies behaved similarly to that of human babies with their parents, claiming their comfort and safety. 35% of mining showed signs of stress or runaway behaviours in protest of abandonment.
Why are they behaving like this?
Unlike in nature, when kittens are with their mother, there is no process of detachment or emancipation at home. The comfort, well-being, and safety that minions are sought to reinforce this attachment, causing them to feel helpless and insecure in the absence of their guardian.
In turn, oxytocin (also called the love hormone) plays a relevant role in this forces’ game. The pituitary gland secretes this hormone by which miners, like us, enjoy social interaction. Through play or mutual grooming, felines feel at ease in the company of their peers.
In your case, as a guardian, the care and time you spend daily have the same effect reinforcing your bond to infinity. Therefore, even if his biology does not allow him to build a self-concept as a being other than his congeners or value his actions, the cat thanks to the company and misses the caregiver. There’s no doubt about it.
11 Unequivocal Behaviors of Cat Love
Once the unknown is clear, we want to show you the various signs that your pet loves you. I’m sure you’ll identify more than one in your daily life with her:
- It stretches and shows you an area as vulnerable to cats as its abdomen to be caressed.
- He rubs against you, walks between your legs rubbing or gives you small blows with his head. He’s claiming your attention.
- He hunches his back when you caress him. He finds contact enjoyable with you.
- Purr when you approach or caress him.
- He follows you everywhere.
- He stares at you blinking slowly. It’s obvious to be looking for your reaction.
- It hurts you. A recent study confirms the ability of children to choose the relevant sound based on their purpose. We recommend that you review our Cat Sounds entry and its meaning to delve into this aspect.
- He sleeps near you or on you. If he didn’t feel safe and relaxed by your side, his survival instinct wouldn’t let him.
- He’s playful.
- He gives you and then gives you a little bite.
- Raise your tail when you see it or move it slowly.
As you can see, felines mobilise a particular catalogue of bodily strategies to express their gratitude. Knowing them helps us respect them and love them even more, what do you think? Leave us your feedback, and we’d love to read to you.